Methods of capturing images and making garments

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to better methods for making garments, for example by capturing images of a subject and making garments for that subject without requiring the subject to visit a tailor for conventional measurement with a tape measure. The disclosed methods provide a faster, easier, and more convenient way to acquire measurements. The disclosed methods also provide better fitting garments and higher customer satisfaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/267,029, filed Feb. 4, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/538,650, filed Jun. 21, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.11,042,919, which is a U.S. national stage application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2015/065489, filed Dec. 14, 2015, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/096,517, filed Dec. 23,2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to the making garments, particular measuring,fitting, and making custom clothes and accessories for specific people.

BACKGROUND

With the development and adoption of online shopping platforms, manyconsumers do a large amount of their shopping over the internet. Onlineshopping allows the consumer to compare a variety of brands within aproduct category without needing to travel to a store. Accordingly,online shopping gives the consumer more options and greater convenience.

Shopping for clothes presents one significant challenge for the onlineshopper.

Although shoppers can view and compare clothing brands and styles, thoseshoppers are unable to select clothes based on precise fit. Althoughsome varieties of clothing are available in broadly defined sizecategories; other types of clothes are frequently made for one customerin particular.

Custom garments (e.g., dress shirts) are made specifically for anindividual customer in order to guarantee that the garment fits thatcustomer well. Making garments for one specific person requiresobserving the dimensions of that person to ensure proper fit. Theadvantage of good fit comes at a cost: the customer must travel to thevendor to be measured before the custom garment can be made. Customgarment measurements are traditionally taken by a tailor, i.e., a personwhose occupation is making fitted clothes such as suits, pants, jackets,etc. to fit individual customers.

Before this disclosure, a person shopping for custom garments was forcedto choose between (A) shopping convenience and (B) goodness of fit.Furthermore, traditional custom garments are significantly moreexpensive than those with broadly defined sizes because each garmentrequires first acquiring a set of custom measurements by an expert intaking such measurements.

There exists an ongoing need for providing consumers with garments thatfit well, without requiring the consumer to seek out a tailor each timethe consumer wishes to purchase a garment. Furthermore, there exists aneed for quickly and easily acquiring a person's measurements from achosen convenient location.

Furthermore, there exists a need for conveniently capturing an image orvideo of a person without requiring the person to cycle through multipleiterations of repositioning a camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. A better understanding of the features andadvantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments,in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanydrawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary setup of the mobile device capturing one ormore images of a subject, as described in some embodiments herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Better methods for making garments have now been developed.

Better methods of capturing images of a subject have now been developed.

Disclosed herein are methods of capturing an image of a subject andmaking garments for that subject, without requiring the subject to visita tailor for conventional measurement with a tape measure. The disclosedmethods provide a faster, easier, and more convenient way to acquiremeasurements. The disclosed methods also provide better fitting garmentsand higher customer satisfaction.

Disclosed herein is a method for capturing an image of a subject,comprising: identifying a mobile device having a top, a bottom, acamera, and a means for detecting the orientation of the mobile device;fixing the bottom of the mobile device at a vertical position, relativeto the subject; identifying the angle of the mobile device, relative toa base plane; identifying the optimal angle of the camera, relative tothe base plane; and capturing an image via the camera.

As used herein, the term “image” means a reproduction or imitation ofthe form of a person or thing, i.e., a subject. For example, the termimage would include any optical counterpart of an object produced by anoptical device (such as a lens) or an electronic device (such as adigital camera). The term “image” should also be read to include anyvisual representation of something, e.g, a likeness of an objectproduced on a photographic material or a picture produced on anelectronic display (such as a television or computer screen). Further,it should be understood that “an image” could include multiple images,for example, a sequence of images that can be taken together to form avideo.

As used herein, the term “subject” means a person or tiling that is atissue. Within tiie context of capturing and image, the term “subject”means the person or thing that is being captured in the image.

As used herein, the term “mobile device” means a handheld, handhelddevice or handheld computer, which includes practically any readilyportable computing device, including a laptop computer. In manycircumstances, mobile devices are equipped with a touch or non-touchdisplay screen and sometimes, a mini keyboard. There are many types ofmobile devices, the commonest among them being, mobile phones, tablets,smartphones, PDAs, pagers, and Personal Navigation Devices.

As used herein, the terms “top” and “bottom” mean (a) the highest oruppermost point, part, or surface of something and (b) the lowest orlowermost point, part, or surface of something, respectively. As usedherein, the terms highest and lowest should be measured relative to theground or earth. For illustration, in the case of a mobile device, the“bottom” would be the part of the mobile device most often orientedclosest to the ground or floor.

As used herein, the term “camera” means an optical instrument thatrecords images that can be stored directly, transmitted to anotherlocation, or both. These images may be still photographs or movingimages such as videos or movies. Many mobile devices come equipped withan onboard camera, which should be considered within the scope of“camera” in this disclosure.

As used herein, the term “vertical position relative to the subject”means the height or up/down position relative to the subject. Forexample, in the case of fixing the vertical position of a mobile devicerelative to the subject, the mobile device may be positioned on the sameplane upon which the subject is positioned. For example, the mobiledevice may be placed on the floor upon which a human subject isstanding. In another example, a mobile device may be leaned against awall or other vertical object that is about perpendicular to the groundor floor.

As used herein, the term “base plane” means the surface upon which themobile device is positioned, i.e., the plane of contact that isperpendicular to force of gravity. For example, in the case where themobile device is placed on a floor, the “base plane” would be thatfloor. Similarly, in the case where the bottom of the mobile device isplaced on the ground, the “base plane” would be that ground, in oneembodiment, the base plane is the surface upon which the subject stands.

In one embodiment, the “base plane” is substituted with a stand orhanging device, which holds the mobile device stationary at a particularangle and height without moving.

As used herein, the term “angle of the camera, relative to the baseplane,” refers to the angle formed between the planar surface of thecamera lens and the base plane. For example, in the case of a mobiledevice positioned on a floor and leaned against a wall, the “angle ofthe camera” would be the angle formed between the fiat surface of themobile device (including the camera) and the floor. Within the contextof this disclosure, the angle formed between the planar surface of thecamera iens and the base plane refers to the acute angle formed by thesetwo reference planes, such that the camera is pointed upwards from thebase plane.

As used herein, the term “means for detecting the orientation of themobile device” includes any device or collection of devices thatquantifies the angle of the device relative to a base plane, such as thefloor or Earth. For example, a “means for detecting the orientation ofthe mobile device” includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, conventionallevel, or other gravity sensor.

As used herein, the term “optimal angle” means the best angle forcapturing an image of the subject with the camera of the mobile device.In one embodiment, the term optimal angle means an angle that allowspositioning the subject as close a possible to the camera, while keepingthe entire subject within the frame of the image captured by the camera.In another embodiment, the “optimal angle” means an angle that allowspositioning the subject as dose a possible to the camera, while keepingthe entire subject within the frame of the image captured by the cameraand also providing a buffer region in the captured Image.

In one embodiment, the optimal angle of the camera is about 65 to 80degrees. In one embodiment, the optimal angle of the camera is about 60to 75 degrees. In another embodiment, the optimal angle of the camera Ischosen to minimize the distance between the camera and the subject whileincluding the entire subject in the image. In one embodiment, theoptimal angle of the camera is chosen to minimize the distance betweenthe camera and the subject while including the entire subject in theimage and also providing a buffer along the edges of the image frame. Asused in this context, the term “buffer” means a portion along theoutside or edge of the image frame that does not include a part of thesubject, in some cases, the “buffer” is sufficient to accommodate aparticular amount of angular variation in the angle of the camerawithout excluding portions of the subject from the image frame. In oneexample, the buffer allows for deviations of between 0.01 to 10 degreeswithout excluding portion of the subject from the image frame, in oneexample, the buffer allows for deviations of between 1 to 5 degreeswithout excluding portion of the subject from the image frame.

As used herein, the term “capturing an image” means acquiring a visualrepresentation of the subject. As used herein, “capturing” includesrecording and storing directly and transmitting to another location forrecording, storage, presentation, or treatment of captured image data.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject, comprises: identifying the angle of the mobile device bymeasuring gravitational force readings relative to an axis or set ofaxes defined for the mobile device. In one example, the method ofcapturing an image includes the subject's whole body. In one example,the method of capturing an image does not require contacting a human.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject comprises: displaying real time information about the angle ofthe mobile device via a display means of the mobile device. In oneembodiment, the mobile device displays a representation of a target orgoal angle and also displays the current angle of the mobile devicethroughout a period when the user is positioning the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject, comprises a comparison between the angle of the mobile deviceand a goal angle for the device.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject, comprises fixing the bottom of the mobile device at a verticalposition of about zero, for example by placing the bottom of the mobiledevice on the floor, ground, or earth.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject comprises: identifying the height of the subject. In oneembodiment, identifying the height of the subject comprises comparingthe size of the subject in a captured image to the size of a referenceobject in that same image. As used herein the term “reference object”means any object (e.g., a 12 oz soda can or credit card) having known orstandard dimensions that can be used to assess the dimensions of asubject by comparing their relative sizes within the image.

In another embodiment, identifying the height of the subject comprisesaccepting user input, either by capturing numerical information, forexample, by voice or keypad input. For example, in one embodiment, amobile device application utilizing the disclosed method of capturing animage of a subject prompts the user for height and/or weightinformation.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method for capturing an image of asubject, comprises: identifying the make and model of the mobile device;fixing the bottom of the camera at a vertical position of about zero;identifying the height of the camera relative to the vertical position;and fixing the distance from the subject to the camera.

In one embodiment, the distance from the camera is about 1 to 20 feet.In another embodiment, the distance from the camera is about 5 to 15feet. In another embodiment, the distance from the camera is about 8 to12 feet. In another embodiment, the distance from the camera is about 10feet. In another embodiment, the distance from the camera is set byaccounting for the field of view of the camera, in order to include thesubject's entire body, so that no part of the subject's body is out ofthe frame. In another embodiment, the distance from the camera is set byaccounting for the field of view of the camera, in order to include tinesubject's entire body and a buffer region, so that no part of thesubject's body is out of the frame.

In one embodiment, the method of identifying the optimal angle of thecamera comprises: optimizing the distance from the subject to camera tominimize the distance from the subject to the camera while fullycapturing the subject.

FIG. 1 shows a method for measuring a person, comprising: capturing avideo of the person; segmenting the video into individual image frames;fixing the height of the person; generating a 3D model of the person;determining the length of a line drawn along a portion of the 3D modelof the person.

As used herein the phrase “capturing a video of the person” meansrecording the person 101 and creating a reproduction or imitation of theform of the person, for example a visual representation of the person,in one embodiment, capturing a video of the person includes using acamera equipped with a digital storage means e.g., with a cellular phonesmart phone camera 102. For example, in one embodiment, capturing avideo of the person includes using the onboard camera of a mobile deviceto record a video of the person, in one embodiment of this disclosure,capturing a video of the person involves recording an image includingthe whole person, from head to toe. in an alternative embodiment,capturing a video of the person involves recording an image includingless than the whole person, for example only from the waist to the heador only from the waist to the feet.

In one embodiment, capturing a video of the person comprises recordingvideo from one fixed point and rotating the person along a vertical axisdefined by the longitudinal axis of the person. In one embodiment,capturing a video of the person comprises rotating the person 360degrees along a vertical axis defined by the longitudinal axis of theperson. In one example, capturing a video of the person comprises fixinga mobile device on the floor and capturing a video of the personstanding and spinning in place with the mobile device's onboard cameraand recording means.

As used herein, the phrase “segmenting the video into individual frames”means partitioning a video (which is a series of digital images) into aseries of individual images. Within the context of this disclosure, thegoal of segmentation is to simplify the information contained in thefull captured video of the person into something that is more meaningfuland easier to analyze. In one embodiment, segmenting the image comprisesselecting individual image frames in order to provide a collection ofimages of the person, said collecting including individual imagesshowing the person standing at different angles relative to the devicecapturing the video.

In one embodiment capturing the person at “different angles relative tothe device capturing the video” is accomplished by holding the positionof the device capturing the video stationary, while the person standsand rotates (aka spins) around an axis running through the person'slongitudinal axis and perpendicular to the floor, ground, or earth, inone embodiment, segmenting the video into individual image framescomprises selecting image frames showing the person at different angleswithin about 360 degrees of rotation about the person's longitudinalaxis and perpendicular to the floor, ground, or earth. In oneembodiment, “segmenting the video into individual frames” comprisesselecting between about 4 to about 400 individual image frames fromwithin the video of the person rotating about longitudinal axis. Withinthe context of this disclosure, the selected image frames show theperson from different angles (i.e., “degrees of rotation about theperson's longitudinal axis”). in another embodiment, segmenting thevideo into individual frames” comprises selecting between about 6 toabout 100 individual image frames from within the video of the personrotating about longitudinal axis. In another embodiment, “segmenting thevideo into individual frames” comprises selecting between about 8 toabout 20 individual image frames from within the video of the personrotating about longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments of the disclosure “segmenting the video intoindividual frames” is facilitated by capturing a background frame. Asused herein, the term “background frame” means an image of the backdropof the scene or surface against which the video of the person iscaptured. In an exampie where “capturing a video of the person”comprises acquiring a video of the person spinning in front of a wall,capturing a background frame would comprise recording an image of thatwall, keeping substantially all aspects of the image frame the same, butwithout the person present.

As used herein, the term “fixing the height of the person” meansacquiring the standing length of the person in the video asconventionally measured from the bottom of the feet to the top of thehead. Within the context of this disclosure, acquiring the standinglength (or height) of this person may be accomplished by any means knownin the art. For example, the height of the person may be acquired byprompting the person for this information. Prompting the person may beaccomplished by programing the mobile device to request that the personenter the height information by typing, selecting, or speaking his orher height. In another example, the person's height information may beaccomplished by including an object of standard size within the video ofthe person. In one embodiment, “fixing the height of the person”comprises identifying an object of standard size (e.g., a compact disk,twelve ounce soda can, etc.) within the video and deducing the height ofthe person by comparing the size of the known, standard object, to thesize of the person in the video.

As used herein, the phrase “generating a 3D image of the person” meanssynthesizing a three dimensional representation of that person. Forexample, within the context of this disclosure, “generating a 30 imageof the person” can be accomplished by acquiring a series of twodimensional images of the person, from a variety of different angles,then using those images to develop a three dimensional representation ofthe person. Generating a 3D image from two dimensional images can beaccomplished by using a variety of known modeling programs. In oneembodiment, the term “generating a 3D image of the person” meansgenerating a 3D image of the entire person. In one embodiment, the term“generating a 3D image of the person” means generating a 3D image ofpart of the person,

As used herein, the phrase “determining the length of a line drawn alonga portion of the 3D model of the person” means calculating the distanceof a specified path along the surface of the exterior or the 3D model ofthe person.

In one embodiment, the disclosed method of measuring a person comprisesdividing the pixels of individual image frames into a foreground groupand a background group. In one example, this dividing is accomplished bydistinguishing the parts of the image attributed to the person from thepart of the image that appears to be in the distance and that providesrelief for the person in the foreground. In one embodiment, dividing thepixels is accomplished by a human capable of identifying a person fromand object (or objects) that is not a person. In another embodiment,available image editing software may be used to facilitate distancingthe person from the background. In another embodiment, a combination ofhuman input and computer software is used for dividing the pixels ofindividual image frames into a foreground group and a background group.

In one embodiment, the method for measuring a person comprisesoptimizing the dividing of pixels. In one example, optimizing thedividing comprises: identifying the height of the human; querying ahuman shape model database for a model human having the height of thehuman and forming the pose of the human in the individual image frame;overlaying the outline of the model human with the outline of the humanin the individual image frame; comparing the outline of the model humanwith the outline of the human in the individual image frame; andmodifying the model of the human by adjusting the outline of the humanin the individual image frame.

Disclosed herein is a method of making a garment, comprising: capturinga video of a person from a plurality of angles; segmenting the videointo individual images; dividing the pixels of the individual imagesinto a foreground group and a background group; generating a 3D model ofa person; using a digital tape measure to acquire certain measurementsalong the exterior of the 3D model of a person; fitting the set ofmeasurements for the person to a set of measurements for a garment.

In one embodiment, “fitting the set of measurements for the person to aset of measurements for a garment” comprises identifying fittingpreferences or styles from the person.

As used herein, the term “garment” includes any doming or accessory.Within the context of this disclosure, the term garment includes (but isnot limited to) belts, boots, boxer briefs, briefs, boxers, swimsuits,coats, jackets, gloves, hats, pajama pants, pajama bottoms, pants,jeans, t-shirts, button down shirt, polo shirts, shirts, sandals,sneakers, shoes, shorts, athletic shorts, compression shorts, socks,sweaters, sweatshirts, undershirts, underwear, blazers, sport coats,dress shirts, hoodies, fleeces, robes, suits, tuxedos, formalwear,watches, dresses, jumpsuits, rompers, leggings, lingerie, skirts, tops,and vests.

As used herein, the term “digital tape measure” means a device thatdetermines the planar measurement of a person by using a 3D model of aperson. For example, using a digital tape measure to measure a person inone dimension (e.g., a waist, hip, or neck measurement), can beaccomplished by computing the intersection of a triangular meshrepresenting one body part (e.g, an arm) with a piane. The set of linesegments in the intersection is a closed loop, the length of which ismeasured, in another example, the digital tape measure determines thelength of the convex hull, which can be used to mimic the data acquiredby a human tailor physically placing a tape measure in one plane aroundthe person's body. In one embodiment, the digital tape measuredetermines the shortest path on the mesh between the two points on the3D model of a person. This system of measurement has been foundeffective at mimicking curved measurements, e.g., measuring a shoulderwidth or a sleeve length on a human subject.

In at least one embodiment, acquiring certain measurements along theexterior of the 3D model of a person is accomplished by using acorresponded 3D model of a person. Within the context of thisdisclosure, two meshes are corresponded when a map exists between theirsurfaces. Within the context of the disclosed methods, using a modelincluding corresponded meshes preserves reference points. Within thecontext of this disclosure, using corresponded meshes of people providesadvantage that any point of interest on one mesh would map to the samepoint on the other mesh. For example, knee cap to knee cap, belly buttonto belly button, top of shoulder to top of shoulder.

In some embodiments of the method of making a garment, the “fitting” isoptimized by maximizing customer satisfaction for each set ofmeasurements. As used herein, the term “maximizing customer satisfactionfor each set of measurements” means attaining the highest possible gradefor user feedback. In one embodiment, “maximizing customer satisfactionfor each set of measurements” includes soliciting feedback from theperson receiving a particular garment and correlating that feedback withthe set of measurements for the person and the set of measurements forthe garment.

In one embodiment, “maximizing customer satisfaction for each set ofmeasurements” includes modifying the relationship between the “set ofmeasurements for the garment and the “set of measurements for theperson.”

Disclosed herein is a method of receiving input from a mobile deviceuser, comprising: capturing video of the mobile device user; measuringmotion in the video- identifying a minimum threshold for the motion inthe video; and preforming a process when the motion in the video fallsbelow the minimum threshold.

As used herein, the phrase “measuring motion in the video” meansdetermining how much movement is occurring in the video, for example,how much (or how little) the subject is moving. In one example, a personwalking, spinning, gesticulating, or moving the arms or legs couldqualify as an actively moving subject. In one contrasting example, aperson standing rigidly erect without moving the arms and legs could beconsidered still or motionless.

As used herein, the phrase “identifying a minimum threshold for themotion in the video” means defining an amount of movement or motion thatshould be interpreted as stiil or motionless.

As used herein, the phrase “performing a process” means initiating orlaunching a predetermined action or series of actions. In oneembodiment, a “process” is advancing a series of data acquisition steps.In one example, the disclosed method comprises capturing video of amobile device user and interpreting stillness as an instruction toadvance the user experience, in one embodiment, the mobile devicecaptures video of a person until the person stands still to signifyreadiness for the next step in an application process. Upon recognizingthe stillness in the frame, the method of receiving input advances theapplication process to the next step. This method provides the advantageof allowing the user to communicate readiness to the mobile device froma distance and without moving or touching the mobile device.

As used herein, the phrase “motion in the video falls below the minimumthreshold” means that the amount of movement within the captured video,when quantified, is less than a pre-determined value. The motion in thevideo may be quantified by a variety of means for measuring motionwithin an image or collection of images, for example by comparingdifference between frames in a sequence of images. The threshold can beset to any value defining an amount of motion.

Although the present invention herein has been described with referenceto various exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that theseembodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applicationsof the present invention. Those having skill in the art would recognizethat various modifications to the exemplary embodiments may be made,without departing from the scope of the invention.

Moreover, it should be understood that various features and/orcharacteristics of differing embodiments herein may be combined with oneanother, it is therefore to be understood that numerous modificationsmay be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangementsmay be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, other embodiments of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from consideration of the specification andpractice of the invention disclosed herein, it is intended that thespecification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a scopeand spirit being indicated by the claims.

Finally, it is noted that, as used in this specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” include pluralreferents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent,and vice versa. As used herein, the term “include” or “comprising” andits grammatical variants are intended to be non- limiting, such thatrecitation of an item or items is not to the exclusion of other likeitems that can be substituted or added to the recited item(s).

We claim:
 1. A method for determining body measurements of anindividual, the method comprising: (a) sensing, using a sensor, arelative position in space of a computing device comprising a camera;(b) determining a guidance value based on the relative position; (c)positioning the camera based on the guidance value; (d) capturing aplurality of images of the individual using the camera when the camerais positioned based on the guidance value and as the individual isstanding and turning at a distance from the camera, wherein theplurality of images show the individual at different angles; (e)generating a three dimensional model of the individual using theplurality of images; and (f) determining a length of a line drawn alonga portion of the three dimensional model of the person, therebydetermining the body measurements of the individual.